Market research

Primary sugar crops market in Uganda

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for primary sugar crops in Uganda remained relatively stable at around 5.5 million tonnes between 2018 and 2019, despite regional trade restrictions that limited exports to neighboring countries. A decline to 5.3 million tonnes occurred in 2020, primarily due to droughts that reduced raw cane availability, alongside the enactment of the Sugar Act 2020 which established a new regulatory framework for the industry.

Production rebounded sharply in 2021, pushing market volume to 5.9 million tonnes, supported by the expansion of contract farming schemes that integrated smallholder farmers into sugarcane production networks. Growth continued in 2022, reaching 6.2 million tonnes, fueled by significant government and private sector investments in agriculture, including a nearly USD 10 million South-South Cooperation project aimed at boosting crop productivity.

By 2023, the market volume stabilized at 6.2 million tonnes with only marginal growth, as the industry adapted to stringent new regulations introduced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. These rules barred the establishment of sugar mills in close proximity and set new conditions for registering sugarcane out-growers to improve traceability and efficiency.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Uganda
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uganda in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uganda by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production primary sugar crops in Uganda

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Uganda's production of primary sugar crops declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 5 360 K t, representing a slight decrease of 2.5% compared to the previous year. Production peaked in 2018 at 5 503 K t, which was also the year with the largest annual increase of 3.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.3%	(0.1%)	(2.5%)	0.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports primary sugar crops from Uganda

Exports in kind, t

Uganda's exports of primary sugar crops increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 46 177 t, showing a dramatic surge of 556.4% from 2019. Over the period from 2018 to 2020, exports grew by 1 183 929.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2 179.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	180 282.1%	556.4%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda's primary sugar crops were primarily exported to Kenya, which accounted for 99.7% of total exports in volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Uganda in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The value of Uganda's primary sugar crops exports rose for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 2 259 K US dollars, reflecting a sharp increase of 129.8% compared to 2019. Between 2018 and 2020, export value grew by 262 985.1%, translating to an annualized rate of 1 280.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	114 369.4%	129.8%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya was overwhelmingly the main destination for Uganda's primary sugar crops exports in value terms, making up 97.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Uganda in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io